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EspañolNICK HEIDFELD
'Nicklaus "Nick" Heidfeld', frequently referred to as 'Quick Nick',[1] (born May 10 1977) is a German Formula One auto racing driver for the BMW Sauber factory team. He lives in Stafa, Switzerland with his girlfriend Patricia, daughter Juni (born July 2005) and son Joda (born July 2007).[2]
| Contents |
| Early career |
| Formula One career |
| Career history |
| Complete Formula One results |
| References |
| External links |
Early career
Heidfeld was born in Mönchengladbach, Germany, and began racing in 1988. In 1994, he moved into the German Formula Ford series, and gained widespread attention by winning 8 of the 9 races to take the title. In 1995, he won the German International Formula Ford 1800 Championship, and came second in the Zetec Cup. This led to a drive in the German International Formula 3 championship for 1996, where he finished third after taking 3 wins. The following year, Heidfeld won the German F3 Championship, including a win at the prestigious Monaco event. In 1998, he won three races and was runner-up in the European Formula 3000 Championship with the West Junior Team. At the final race of the season he was demoted to the back of the grid from pole position, after his team used non-compliant fuel.[3] He finished the race ninth and out of the points, losing the championship by seven points to Juan Pablo Montoya. During that season, he was also the official test driver for the McLaren-Mercedes Formula One team. In 1999, he won the International Formula 3000 Championship. He also holds the official track record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which he took in 1999.[4]
Formula One career
Heidfeld driving for Prost at the 2000 Canadian Grand Prix.
Heidfeld driving for Jordan at the 2004 Canadian Grand Prix.
Heidfeld was signed as a race driver for the Prost Grand Prix F1 team for the 2000 season, alongside Jean Alesi. Heidfeld struggled with his new car. He suffered a string of retirements and came to blows with team mate Jean Alesi on more than one occasion. He departed Prost at the end of that season. Shortly after he signed a three-year contract with Sauber for 2001, partnered with rookie driver Kimi Räikkönen. After the announcement of Mika Häkkinen's retirement, many thought that Heidfeld would replace him in the McLaren team,[5] as he had outperformed Räikkönen over the year, including a podium position in the Brazilian Grand Prix. However, the seat went to Räikkönen, and Heidfeld stayed with Sauber for 2002 and 2003.
At the end of 2003, Heidfeld was dumped from the team and looked to be without a race seat for the 2004 season. However, after a number of moderately successful tests, it was announced that Heidfeld would race with the Jordan Grand Prix team, alongside rookie Giorgio Pantano. During the winter of 2004-2005, Heidfeld tested with the Williams team, in a 'shootout' against Antônio Pizzonia for the second race seat. At the Williams launch on January 31, it was announced that Heidfeld would be a race driver for the team in 2005.[6]
_in_practice_at_USGP_2005.jpg)
Heidfeld driving for Williams at the 2005 US GP.
At the seventh race of the 2005 season at the Nürburgring circuit, his home Grand Prix, Heidfeld took his first ever pole position. He also achieved his best position to-date (2nd) with Williams in Monaco, which he equalled at the Nürburgring.
Heidfeld missed the Italian and Belgian Grands Prix due to injuries suffered in a testing accident. Scheduled to come back for Brazil, he was injured again when hit by a motorbike when out cycling, and therefore forced to sit out the rest of the season.
Heidfeld gained a contract with his then current team's (Williams) engine supplier, BMW, who bought the Sauber team and entered Formula One as BMW Sauber for the 2006 Formula One season. The contract is believed to be for two years, with an option for a third, in 2008.
Heidfeld driving for BMW Sauber at the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix.
During 2006 Heidfeld scored points several times for his new team. At Melbourne he was running as high as second until the safety car came out. He eventually finished 4th. At Indianapolis, he was eliminated in a spectacular first lap accident which saw fellow drivers, Scott Speed, Kimi Räikkönen and Juan Pablo Montoya also go out. Heidfeld's car was launched into a triple barrel roll, the first of his career and the second of the season (Christijan Albers suffered one at the 2006 San Marino Grand Prix). He and the other drivers all walked away unharmed. The Hungarian Grand Prix saw Heidfeld give BMW Sauber their first podium and best result of the year when he finished 3rd. He drove from 10th on the grid to finish on the podium.
At the end of 2006, Heidfeld was quoted as going on the verbal attack against media oversaturation of the talent of teammate Robert Kubica, despite scoring more points than the Pole.[7] This has happened three times in the German's career, in 2001 when he was teammates with Kimi Räikkönen (by season's end he beat the Finn by 12 points to 9) and in 2002 when he was teammates with Felipe Massa (beating Massa by 7 points to 4); Räikkönen and Massa form the 2007 Ferrari line-up.
Heidfeld driving for BMW Sauber at the 2007 British Grand Prix.
Heidfeld has started the 2007 Formula One season strongly. In Bahrain, he chased down and overtook reigning world champion Fernando Alonso, finishing half a minute ahead of his BMW teammate Kubica. He has scored three fourth places, a sixth and a second place at the Canadian Grand Prix, where he also out-qualified both Ferraris, equaling his best ever finish to a Formula One race. After retiring from fifth place at Indianapolis, he was outscored by team-mate Kubica at both Magny-Cours and Silverstone. At an eventful European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring, Heidfeld's home circuit, where he collided with Kubica on the opening lap, he managed to recover and overtake Kubica on the final lap despite taking six pitstops in the race. Nick returned to form in Hungary, qualifying second and finishing third to score his and BMW's second podium of the season.
On 28 April 2007, Heidfeld drove 3 demonstration laps around the Nürburgring's legendary 14 mile Nordschleife track, which made him the first driver in 31 years to pilot a current F1 car there. About 45,000 spectators had shown up for the show which was held after a 4 hour VLN endurance race.
After several months of negotiations, BMW confirmed that Heidfeld will stay with the team for .[8]
Career history
| Year | Series | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karting (1986 - 1993) | |||
| 1988 | Club Championship, Kerpen-Mannheim | ||
| 1990 | Nordrhein-Westfalen DMV Kart Championship | 'Champion' | |
| 1991 | Member ADAC junior kart squad | Qualified to take part in European and World Championships. | |
| 1992 | German Junior Kart Championship | 5th | |
| 1993 | Formula A World Championship | ||
| Formula (since 1994) | |||
| 1994 | German Formula Ford 1600 | 'Champion' | 8 wins of 9 starts |
| 1995 | International German Formula Ford 1800 | 'Champion' | |
| German Formula Ford | Runner-up | ||
| 1996 | German Formula Three Championship | 3rd | 138 points, 3 wins, 6 podia, 1 pole position, 6 fastest laps with Opel Team BSR |
| 1997 | German Formula Three Championship | 'Champion' | 224 points, 5 wins, 11 podia, 2 pole position, 7 fastest laps with Opel Team BSR |
| 1998 | Formula 3000 | Runner-up | 58 points, 3 wins, 7 podia, 2 pole position, 3 fastest laps |
| 1999 | Formula 3000 | 'Champion' | 59 points, 4 wins, 7 podia, 4 pole positions, 6 fastest laps with West Competition Team |
| Formula One Tests | with Prost-Peugeot and McLaren-Mercedes | ||
Complete Formula One results
() (Races in 'bold' indicate pole position) (Races in ''italics'' indicate fastest lap)
''
★ ''Season in progress.
References
1. Quick Nick puts Sauber traction in action
2. Heidfeld to pay flying visit to newborn son
3. Henry, Alan (ed.) (1998) ''Autocourse 1998-1999'' Room at the top - F3000 review p.248 Hazleton publishing ISBN 1-874557-43-8
4. A Feast for the Automotive Senses
5. 2001 Formula One Annual, , Nigel (ed.), Mansell, European Press Limited, , ISBN 0-9541368-0-2
6. Williams give Heidfeld his chance
7. Heidfeld denies Kubica rift
8. Heidfeld and Kubica stay at BMW
External links
★ Nick Heidfeld official website /
★ Unnoficial Nick Heidfeld Fansite /
★ Nick Heidfeld career early career to F1
★ Nick Heidfeld profile and statistics
★ Nick Heidfeld statistics
★ BMW Sauber F1 Team homepage
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